Federal extension benefits stop for 13,000 residents

Shea Johnson, Staff Writer

Thursday

Jan 9, 2014 at 12:38 PMJan 10, 2014 at 9:01 AM

After jobless benefits lapsed last month for 13,000 San Bernardino County residents relying on a federal extension program, county officials say a grant could help provide opportunities, while lawmakers seek to halt more workers from being impacted.

The disruption occurred when the federal unemployment extension program ended Dec. 28. The program had been providing federal money to the long-term unemployed — at one point, for up to 73 additional weeks — after their state-funded benefits expired.

In California, state-funded benefits expire after 26 weeks.

More than 222,000 Californians who were receiving extended benefits were cut off when the program shuttered, according to the state's Employment Development Department.

The county Workforce Investment Board announced this week it would use a National Emergency Grant to fund new on-the-job paid training opportunities for some who were affected by the program ending.

Deputy Director Bradley Gates said Wednesday that WIB wanted it known that "in light of the expiration of unemployment benefits, we have resources."

The board operates the county's three America's Job Centers of California, and the $500,000 grant is expected to service roughly 60 people, Gates said.

The "increase in on-the-job training, funded by federal dollars, is a strategic move to close our region's skills gap and offer residents excellent employment," Executive Director Sandy Harmsen said in a statement.

The training is free, according to a news release, and Gates said "this (grant) is just one source of services we're able to provide."

On Tuesday, a preliminary vote to reauthorize federal extended benefits for three more months passed in the U.S. Senate, setting the stage for an expected final Senate vote on the bill later this week.

Roughly 78,100 were unemployed in the county — a 9.1 percent unemployment rate — according to the most recent state data in November. If the president and Congress cannot agree to renew the extension, more unemployed Americans will lose aid as their state-funded benefits expire.

According to the state EDD, "a total of six bills have been introduced in Congress that would continue the federal extension program for anywhere from three months to one or two additional years. Only the three-month extension has come up for a preliminary vote."

For more information on the WIB's paid training opportunities, including qualification criteria, call 800-451-JOBS or visit www.csb-win.org.

For more information on unemployment benefits, visit the state EDD's website at www.edd.ca.gov/unemployment.

Shea Johnson may be reached at 760-955-5368 or SJohnson@VVDailyPress.com.

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